Wednesday, 2 March 2011

Police raid meth lab

Police Lt Col Yim Socheath looks over paraphernalia used in the production of narcotics that was seized at Nam Trea Restaurant and Guesthouse in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district today.

via CAAI

Tuesday, 01 March 2011 19:57 Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

Phnom Penh Municipal Police arrested three people at a suspected drug-producing site in the capital’s Meanchey district last night, while also seizing about six kilograms of methamphetamine and ketamine in the raid.

Deputy Police Chief Pen Rath said the suspects were a male and female teenager, as well as a 51-year-old Cambodian-American male who owns a restaurant and guesthouse in Meanchey district.

In addition to the seized narcotics, he said nearly 1,400 bottles of pre-cursor chemicals, such as sulfuric acid, were also confiscated.

“We were able to crack down on this place and arrest these people because of reports from local residents,” said Pen Rath.

“[The suspects] are still being questioned and interrogated at our municipal police office in order to find out those who are behind or involved with them.”

The suspects are expected to be charged in municipal court tomorrow, he added.

According to Pen Rath, the 51-year-old suspect served a four-month jail term in 2010 on drug trafficking charges.

He is the owner of Nam Trea Restaurant and Guesthouse and the suspected owner of the drug-producing facility that was raided last night in Meanchey district’s Veal Sbov commune.

“[He] is a big drug trafficker,” said Pen Rath.

“He has been involved with drug trafficking activities for many years in Cambodia.”

Two vehicles and a pistol were also confiscated in the raid, he said.

For several weeks, the municipal police have conducted a series of drug raids, arresting and charging users, traffickers and manufacturers in the process.

During the first two months of 2011, Pen Rath said a total of 258 people had been arrested and charged on drug-related offences.